Sep 133 min read

Ed Marshall’s Return to the Sky: 100-Year-Old Canadian Paratrooper Skydives for Charity

By Samantha Winnicki

Cayuga, ON - On July 12, 2024, history was made when Ed Marshall, a 100-year-old Canadian paratrooper, went skydiving to raise money for SickKids Hospital. In tandem with his airborne brother, 37-year-old Afghanistan veteran Adam Winnicki, Ed jumped at 11,000 feet, enjoyed a full freefall and landed softly on the grass on the Skydive Ontario dropzone.

Marshall, who trained as a paratrooper in WWII, recalls that his previous jumps were always “low to avoid detection” and that he wanted to experience “a true free fall, a jump from altitude and a long descent, just to enjoy the ride.” Marshall’s adventure was not one he was embarking on alone. He graciously explained, “If I am to achieve this thrill of a lifetime, I want it to benefit society. I would like my jump to benefit children who need all the support they can get.” His goal was to raise $100,000 for The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. One-thousand dollars for every year of his life.

Alongside his grandson Bailey Fullan and with the assistance of the Canadian Airborne Forces Association, Marshall was introduced to his tandem instructor Adam Winnicki, a paratrooper in The Queen's Own Rifles and tandem skydive instructor at Skydive Ontario. Winnicki, with 4600+ skydives, over 3000 of them tandems, was honoured to accept the invitation to jump with Marshall, “I’ve been lucky to know a few WWII veterans and Ed is no exception, he has that true warrior mindset,” he said.

The jump was originally scheduled for early June in honour of the paratroopers who participated in D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, but was postponed due to strong winds. The Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team the SkyHawks, who had arranged to join Marshall, were unable to accommodate the new jump date but sent their well wishes.

On the morning of July 12th, Marshall and his family arrived at the dropzone early in order to complete interviews with reporters and prepare for the jump. Marshall’s “100 Year Jump” fundraiser had already raised over $90,000 and there was excitement in the air that Marshall’s fundraising goal could be reached that day. When it was finally time to go, Marshall, surrounded by four generations of relatives, stood from his chair, stepped into the safety harness and walked with Winnicki to the runway.

At the plane, Marshall met pilot Warren Thomson and videoflyers Nicole Matychuk and Dylan Hrycay. The team discussed the exit and once everyone was ready they took off together down the grassy runway. At altitude, Winnicki stowed Marshall’s expensive hearing aid in his pocket, Matychuk stepped onto the jump platform, and followed by Hrycay, Marshall jumped out of the plane. Marshall’s main parachute was deployed at 5000 feet and at 3000 feet, Winnicki returned Marshall’s hearing aid to his right ear. After a few minutes cruising under canopy, the two paratroopers emerged from a puffy white cloud and landed in the dropzone to the sounds of cheers and applause.

Ed Marshall, the oldest Canadian to skydive, joins an exclusive group of Centenarians who have taken the leap. In 2017, American WWII survivor Bryson William Hayes jumped at 101 years old. Five years later, Sweden’s Rut Larsson would become the oldest person to tandem skydive at 103 years old. In May of 2023, Dorothy Hoffner jumped at 104 years old. The current World Record for Oldest Tandem Parachute jump is held by Alfred Blaschke who jumped at an astonishing 106 years old, his third skydive after turning 100. Marshall, who has no plans to jump again, is pleased with the outcome of his 100 Year Jump, successfully raising over $104,000 for SickKids Hospital and experiencing the thrill of a lifetime.

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